Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Children's book giveaway!
Earlier this month Laura with Candlewick Press offered to send me some children's books to review. She sent some extras for me to give away to my readers too! :)

First, the book reviews.  Then the giveaway details.

1) Higher! Higher! by Leslie Patricelli

Description: One child. One swing. An obliging dad. The inevitable plea to go Higher! Higher! Add Leslie Patricelli's wildly expressive illustrations, and an everyday pasttime reaches new heights of humor and whimsy.

Age Range: 2 yrs - 5 yrs

My review: At first I was worried that Snuggle Bug and Boo might find this book too simplistic.  It only uses six different words throughout the entire book.  I needn't have worried.  They both love the book and Snuggle Bug asks for it nearly every night!  The colorful illustrations do a great job of telling a rich story and I found that both Snuggle Bug and Boo liked to tell me what was going on (beyond what the words said) based on their interpretation of the pictures.  They elaborated upon the story in a very cute way! Sometimes less is more.

2) Seymour & Henry by Kim Lewis

Description: Seymour and Henry love to play and can’t wait to jump in the pond. Plop! But when it’s time to go home, pit-a-pat, they run away, scampering farther and farther from their mother. Now it’s starting to rain, and Mommy is nowhere to be seen. "QUACK!" Can they find their way back? And what will their mommy do then? With her trademark soft pastels, Kim Lewis brings to life an endearing pair of toy ducklings and an ever-patient mom. Two adventurous ducklings get a little too carried away in a tale of a mother-and-ducky reunion that toddlers are sure to appreciate.

Age Range: 2 yrs and up

My review: Snuggle Bug and Boo enjoyed this book. They're big fans of ducks and enjoyed the cute illustrations found in this book. Snuggle Bug was a bit concerned that the ducks lost their Mommy but was relieved when they found her towards the end of the story. 

3) Little Chick by Amy Hest

Description: Little Chick may be a good and patient gardener, as Old-Auntie observes, but what if you simply can’t wait for your carrot to grow tall? What if you skip like a pro but still can’t lift your kite in the air? Or if you’re a really good stretcher but can’t reach your favorite star? With affection and humor, Amy Hest offers three vignettes about a curious chick and a loving auntie who knows how to soften disappointments by keeping the spark of wonder alive. And the incomparable Anita Jeram renders Little Chick’s gestures and movements with a mastery that captures the spirit of every young child.

Age Range: 2 yrs and up

My review: Before even reading the story itself, the kids and I were drawn in by the beautiful illustrations of Anita Jeram.  She captured the sweet relationship between Little Chick and Old-Auntie marvelously with her drawings!  Snuggle Bug and Boo enjoyed the three short stories within the book and Snuggle Bug had the main messages of these stories memorized quickly.  Honestly, of the three books we received from Laura with Candlewick Press, Snuggle Bug claims that this is his favorite.  He asks for it time and time again!

Now for the giveaway!

Thanks to Laura, I have two extra copies of "Little Chick" that have been signed by the author.  Both copies are brand new, both are hard cover.  I'll be giving a book away to two lucky readers!

If you're interested in a chance to win, just leave me a comment and I'll randomly choose a winner this Saturday, 2 May.  

All I ask in return is that you post your own review of this book on your blog once you've had time to read the book a few times with your little ones.

If you don't have a blog, that's okay. You can still enter to win! Just leave me your email in my comments.

Labels: , , ,

6:43 AM
20 comments


Monday, April 27, 2009
April Pay It Forward winners!



It's time to pick the two winners for my April Pay It Forward Book Exchange. I've used Random.org to find my winners, although considering only 3 people entered this month for my 2 book giveaways, the odds were high for winning!

And the winners are...

#4 Tamy with 3 Sides of Crazy who wins a copy of Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult.

# 5-Angi with Teen Lit Review who wins The Last Girls by Lee Smith.

Congrats, ladies! Please email me your mailing addresses so I can send out your book!

And for those of you who didn't enter to win my giveaway, check back tomorrow.  I'm going to be posting a couple of children's books signed by the author (it'll be a review and giveaway, not a PIF book exchange).

Also, there is 1 additional book still up for grabs this month thanks to PIF giveaways being held by other bloggers! Hurry quick to enter to win!

My next Pay It Forward Book Exchange will begin on Monday, 4 May. I will probably have at least two books up for grabs.

I hope you'll join me and help me spread the word!

Labels: , ,

6:27 AM
3 comments


Saturday, April 25, 2009
Personalized bean bags
I thought I'd share pictures of the fun personalized bean bags I've recently made.  They're up on my Sparkle and Charm Boutique website if you're interested in placing an order.  I will be selling these for $3 per bag.   

These rice filled bean bags are 5" x 5" and have been triple stitched for added durability, straight and zig zag stitching on the inside and a straight top stitch on the outside.   Have a theme in mind?  Want to spell out the name of your child, use first/middle/last initials, or even have your own message created?  Custom orders are welcome!  





Labels: ,

9:20 AM
6 comments


Friday, April 24, 2009
Favorite Ingredients Friday (Dessert Edition)

Happy Friday! It's time for my Favorite Ingredients Friday Dessert Edition!

I think you know by now that I have a sweet tooth and I love to bake.  I hope you can share some of your favorite dessert recipes with me so that I can try new things!  To see the recipes from last year's Dessert Edition, click here .

The recipe I'm about to share is one that was given to me during my bridal shower, 6 years ago!  I have to tell you, I love this recipe because it's quick, easy, and delicious.  I hope you like it!



Easy Peach Cobbler

Ingredients:
4 cups sliced peaches
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter
pinch of salt
3/4 cup flour
2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 cup milk

Directions:
Prepare peaches by mixing with 1 cup sugar.  

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Put butter into 2 1/2" - 3" baking dish and set in oven to melt.  

Mix together rest of ingredients and pour over melted butter.  Do not mix!

Put peaches on top and bake for 1 hour.

Serve hot with ice cream.

*Note: This is also great with blackberries.

I hope if you try this recipe you'll let me know how it turned out for you! Now I look forward to seeing your Favorite Ingredients Dessert Edition recipe!

Don't forget to link your specific recipe post link on Mr. Linky so I can see what's cooking at your house!

Oh, and be sure to put the title of your recipe in parenthesis! It makes it so much quicker for me to go back and search for recipes as I build my weekly menu.

For guidelines and my past Favorite Ingredients Friday recipes, click here.

Thanks so much for your participation. I do appreciate it!

Labels: ,

6:50 AM
5 comments


Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Feed Me Cheesy

A very heart-warming and, dare I say "cute," new blog was brought to my attention recently. It's called Feed Me Cheesy and in Mylene's own words, here's what it's all about:

It's quite often that we find ourselves looking for things that will nourish our hearts – in movies, special occasions, novels, and poems — but surprisngly, it's a bit difficult with all the clutter in our world. Feed Me Cheesy was created in March 2009 to collect all these warm, cheesy moments and answer that need for people to laugh, cry and say "awwww" to the different moments and people that continually make our lives meaningful.

Welcome to the Feed Me Cheesy Community.


If you haven't already checked out Mylene's new blog, please take a moment to do so.  There's some good stuff there!  And be sure to check out these posts for some cute baked good ideas:

cute cupcakes

more baked goodies

Labels: ,

6:00 AM
1 comments


Monday, April 20, 2009
Look at my cool new Sharpie Premium!
Kate with Weber Shandwick recently asked me if I'd be interested in reviewing the new Sharpie Stainless Steel Permanent Marker product.  Of course, I told her, "I'd love to!" 


I've had this Sharpie Premium with me for several weeks now and I have to say I really do LOVE it! 

I love the sleek and stylish stainless steel design.  Mine even came with a nice, soft black protective case, which is handy when I'm carrying this Sharpie in my purse.  

I love the fact that this is the first-ever refillable marker.  It has a refillable black ink cartridge that I think is fantastic because there's nothing more annoying that having to throw out a dried up Sharpie when you forget to put the lid back on! Please tell me I'm not the only one that forgets this!

I love the fine tip that this Sharpie Premium has, making it easier to write more on whatever surface I choose (sippy cups, insides of little jackets, envelopes, measuring material for my bean bags, etc.).

This Sharpie Premium is so cool!  

If you're interested in getting one of these for yourself, they're available at national retailers including Office DepotStaples, and Wal-Mart, with a suggested retail price of $6.99 and $1.99 for each additional refill cartridge.

I think I need to go buy one for my husband.  He's been eyeing mine for a while now and I'm not always so good about sharing!

Labels:

7:23 AM
3 comments


Saturday, April 18, 2009
Bean Bag Tutorial & other Handmade Gift ideas
I've been neglecting my blog lately, sorry!  My excuse?  The usual.  The kids, work, my sewing projects, and my Sparkle and Charm Boutique bow orders have been keeping me busy.

I took Boo and Snuggle Bug to a library story time not long ago and as part of the activities they got to pick bean bags out of a bin and play with them as they marched to music.  They LOVED the bean bag activity, almost as much as the story time reading itself!

I grabbed one of the bean bags and inspected it closely, thinking to myself, 'I wonder where I could buy some of these at?'  But wait, then I thought, 'I could make these at home!'

I thought I'd share a brief Bean Bag Tutorial with you, in case you want to make some for your kids.  If you don't have a sewing machine, I don't think it'd be hard to hand sew these together.


1) Get some scrap material, fold it in half and then trace out 4 squares to make 4 bean bags.  I made each of my squares approximately 4 1/2" x 4 1/2". As you can see, I used a Sharpie to measure out my squares (draw the lines on the "wrong side" of your material). Don't worry, you trim away the black lines.


2) Take two of the 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" squares and make sure the that "right" sides of your material are facing each other on the inside.  Sew a 3/8" straight stitch seam around three of the four sides.  The fourth side you leave open so that you can turn the bean bag material inside out and fill.


3) Trim the material off, close to the edge of the hem, as shown in the picture above.


4) Go back and sew a zig zag stitch around those three seams for reinforcement.


5) Turn the bean bag material inside out so that the "right" side of the material is now on the outside.  Fill approximately 2/3 full of rice.  You can use beans too but the rice works great!


6) Tuck in the open ends of the bean bag and secure with two stick pins to prepare for sewing.


7) Sew a final straight stitch seam as close as possible to the folded in opening of your bean bag.

Viola!  You have a bean bag!  This really takes no time at all!

I made a bunch for kids, and their favorite ones are the ones I made out of fleece scrap material because they're super soft!

For some more fun and easy homemade gift ideas, check out:


Skip to My Lou has a few great sewing projects that even I think I can handle with my basic sewing skills!

The two I'm going to try to make for the kids are these:

1) Crayon Roll: These will be perfect to keep stowed in my purse for the times that we eat out with the kids.  They love to color and not all restaurants have colors.  I know they'd love it if I made one for each of them!

2) Dolly Diapers: I could really use these right now!  Lately Boo and Snuggle Bug have been pulling Boo's diapers out and putting them on her dollies.  Usually they break the diaper tabs in the process, thus wasting the diaper.  I know they'll love these!!  I'll make them in different colors.

Well, that's all for now.  Have a great weekend!

Labels: ,

6:46 AM
3 comments


Friday, April 10, 2009
Favorite Ingredients Friday (Easter Edition)


I know I'm cutting it a bit close, but I hope you'll still join me tomorrow for

Good Friday to you all!  Sorry to get this post published so late in the morning.  The kids and I had to go Starbucks for "coffee"!

Today I'm hosting a my Easter Edition of Favorite Ingredients Friday recipe exchange! Please share recipes of dishes/beverages that you might serve at a Easter Sunday meal. Or, share a special Easter treat that you might make for your children!


Today I'd like to share my tips on how to make these cute Easter cupcakes.

Directions: I use a Pillsbury or Duncan Hines cake mix and the Wilton butter cream frosting recipe. I tint the frosting green and then frost the cupcakes using a Wilton cake decorating tip #233.  Put the frosting into a pastry bag with the #233 tip at the end of the bag.

The Wilton cake decorating tip #233 allows you to make frosting come out looking like grass, which is perfect for these cupcakes!  If you don't have one of these tips, go to Michael's Craft store.  Or, you can order it online.

After you frost the cupcakes, take Whopper easter eggs or pastel colored peanut M&Ms and place 3 of them in the grass frosting.

Viola!  You have Easter cupcakes that the kids (and adults) will love!
Now, I look forward to seeing your Favorite Ingredients Friday Easter Edition recipe! 
Don't forget to link your specific recipe post link on Mr. Linky so I can see what's cooking at your house!

Oh, and be sure to put the title of your recipe in parenthesis! It makes it so much quicker for everyone to go back and search for recipes.

Labels: ,

9:32 AM
5 comments


Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Taking days off to be with my kids!
Snuggle Bug and Boo have Spring Break from their part time preschool this week so I decided to take some time off to hang out with them this week!  I have some fun activities in mind for them:

1) Dye Easter eggs.  We haven't done this yet and I know they'll love it.  I found these cute Paas color cups at the store the other day.  I think they'll be helpful!  Can you believe, I had to get onto Google to figure out how to boil an egg properly?  It's been a while but I managed to only have one cracked boiled egg! :)

2) Take a bus ride.  We found out during our trip to Hawaii that the kids LOVE riding the public bus!  Who knew?  I'm going to plan a short trip and travel by bus.  They'll love it!

3) Bake and decorate Easter cupcakes to give to friends.  I have a neat decorating tip that makes frosting come out looking like grass so I'm going to dye some frosting green to make green grass frosting on top of the cupcakes and then I'm going to put a few pastel colored peanut M&Ms on them so that there are "egss" in the grass.

4) Visit our elderly neighbor, Jack, in his assisted living apartment.  I think we'll bring him a cupcake and a couple of decorated eggs!

5) Go shopping with Baby Bug and her mom.  We're going to Gymboree to pick out Easter dresses for the girls!

6) Straighten up our bedrooms.  Okay, maybe this isn't such a fun activity but it really needs to be done and we're trying to teach the kids to be responsible for keeping their rooms clean at a young age.  Of course, I'll be helping them.

7) Go to Starbucks.  We have a Starbucks location walking distance from our home and we go here more than we should.  You know it's bad when your 2-year old (Boo) says, "Coffee, Mama!" to tell you she wants to go to Starbucks.  No, she doesn't actually get coffee but she associates Starbucks with coffee, smart girl that she is.

8) Play in the park.  The weather has been so nice lately and we have a park within walking distance so I think I'll take the kids to the park.  Maybe I'll even pack us a picnic lunch!

9) Go to the library.  We haven't gone in a while.  There are some story times that I'd like to take them too.

Whew!  We have a lot of options to choose from this week!  I'd better get started.

What are you doing this week?

Labels:

7:05 AM
6 comments


Saturday, April 04, 2009
Saturday morning waffles
I got to sleep in this morning, until 8:00 AM!!  This is usually unheard of, considering Snuggle Bug is usually up by 6:00 or 6:30 AM.

Feeling refreshed after my sleep-in, I decided to make the kids waffles for breakfast!  Of course, they wanted to put on their aprons and help.  They're getting quite good about pouring in ingredients and mixing them up.  Snuggle Bug can even crack eggs into a bowl without dropping in the shells! 

The kids LOVED their waffles, that they helped make!  

I have a Toastmaster Belgian waffle maker, and the recipe that came with it is fantastic, so I thought I'd share.

Enjoy your weekend!

Toastmaster Belgian Waffles

Ingredients
1 3/4 cup flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
3 eggs
7 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups milk

Directions
Preheat the waffle iron. Sift the dry indredients into a medium sized bowl. Separate the eggs, putting the egg whites in smaller bowl. Beat the egg whites until they are stiff. (If you are using an electric mixer, you can beat the egg whites first, then beat the batter without having to wash the beaters. The reverse is not true. If you beat the batter first and you have to wash the beaters before beating the egg whites.) Add the egg yolks, oil and milk all at one time to the dry indredients. Beat until there are no lumps in the batter. Fold the egg whites into the other batter using a spatula or other flat utinsel. Put a full 1/2 cup of batter in your waffle iron to make a 9-inch round waffle. This recipe makes about eight 9 inch waffles.

If this recipe makes too many waffles for one setting, try freezing the waffles you do not eat. After the waffles have been cooked in the waffle iron, put them out on a cooling rack. When they are cool, place them in a plastic bag taking out as much air from the bag as possible. Then freeze the bag of waffles. The next time you want a quick waffle, microwave one from the freezer for about 45 to 60 seconds. They are almost as good as fresh waffles.

Labels: , ,

9:04 AM
5 comments


Friday, April 03, 2009
Favorite Ingredients Friday (Homemade Corn Chips)

Good Friday to you all! It's time for another Favorite Ingredients Friday recipe exchange! I can't wait to see what you all come up with!

Check out my upcoming themed schedule below:

Upcoming 2009 "Themed" Schedule
April 10- Easter Edition
April 24- Dessert Edition
May 1- Spreads & Dips
May 15- Greatest Hits (your past favorite)
May 29- Weight Watcher's Edition

So, a couple of weeks ago I was searching online for recipes that called for cornmeal because I have this bag of cornmeal that needs to be used up and you can really only eat so much corn bread before you gain about 100 lbs. I'm not sure if this recipe is any better for avoiding weight gain (at least these are baked, not fried), but it was fun to try out and the kids enjoyed the results! Some turned out a bit odd shaped but they were good with some tangy salsa! You can turn them into nachos too.

I found the recipe off of Luscious Recipes.

Homemade Corn Chips


Ingredients
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon margarine
3/4 cup boiling water
1 cup boiling water

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 425*F.

2. Combine cornmeal and salt in a mixing bowl.

3. Pour in 1 cup of boiling water and stir.

4. Add butter and stir until melted.

5. Add remaining 3/4 cup boiling water, while stirring constantly.

6. Drop mixture by heaping teaspoonfuls onto a well-greased baking sheet and bake for 14 to 15 minutes.

Now, I look forward to seeing your Favorite Ingredients Friday recipe!

Don't forget to link your specific recipe post link on Mr. Linky so I can see what's cooking at your house!

Oh, and be sure to put the title of your recipe in parenthesis! It makes it so much quicker for me to go back and search for recipes as I build my weekly menu.

For guidelines and my past Favorite Ingredients Friday recipes, click here.

Thanks so much for your participation. I do appreciate it!

Labels: ,

6:00 AM
2 comments


Wednesday, April 01, 2009
April Pay It Forward Book Exchange- 9 books up for grabs!

It's time for another one of my free Pay It Forward book giveaways! The first two books on my giveaway list were the ones that I should've given away at the end of July but didn't. And I didn't get an August giveaway up either. Sorry for falling off the wagon. I hope you'll all join me this month!

For those who may have missed out, please read about the guidelines right here.

So, I have two books to give away this month:

1) Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult, in hardcover!

From Publishers Weekly

Charlotte and Sean O'Keefe's daughter, Willow, was born with brittle bone disease, a condition that requires Charlotte to act as full-time caregiver and has strained their emotional and financial limits. Willow's teenaged half-sister, Amelia, suffers as well, overshadowed by Willow's needs and lost in her own adolescent turmoil. When Charlotte decides to sue for wrongful birth in order to obtain a settlement to ensure Willow's future, the already strained family begins to implode. Not only is the defendant Charlotte's longtime friend, but the case requires Charlotte and Sean to claim that had they known of Willow's condition, they would have terminated the pregnancy, a statement that strikes at the core of their faith and family. Picoult individualizes the alternating voices of the narrators more believably than she has previously, and weaves in subplots to underscore the themes of hope, regret, identity and family, leading up to her signature closing twists.

2) The Last Girls by Lee Smith.

From Publishers Weekly

he Big Chill meets Huckleberry Finn in a moving novel inspired by a real-life episode. Thirty-six years ago, Smith (Oral History) and 15 other college "girls" sailed a raft down the Mississippi River from Kentucky to New Orleans in giddy homage to Huck. Here she reimagines that prefeminist odyssey, and then updates it, as four of the raft's alumnae take a steamboat cruise in 1999 to recreate their river voyage and scatter the ashes of one of their own. What results is an unsentimental journey back to not-quite-halcyon college days of the mid-1960s ("periods cramps boys dates birth babies the works") masterfully intercut with more recent stories of marriages, infidelities, health crises and career moves, all set firmly in the South. At first the characters threaten to be mere stereotypes: innocent, self-sacrificing Harriet; arty, maternal Catherine; brittle Southern belle Courtney; brassy romance novelist Anna. But Smith reveals surprising truths about each character, even as she suggests that the fate of their departed classmate-the wild, promiscuous, possibly suicidal Baby-may never be understood. The steamboat setting provides ample opportunities to skewer cruise ship tackiness and Southern kitsch, a witty counterpoint to the often troubled personal stories of the passengers. Readers who like their plots linear may be challenged by the tangle of tales, but those who agree that "there are no grown-ups," and that there's "no beginning and no end" to the "real story" of people's lives, will find this tender, generous, graceful novel a delight.
If you'd like to win one of these books, here is what you must do:

1. On your blog, write a post about this giveaway, using my "Pay It Forward" button, and then link back to my post. I am sure your readers would appreciate learning about the chance to win a book. You must complete this step to be put in the drawing, unless of course you don't have a blog!

2. Sign the Mr. Linky (the Mr. Linky is that list of names at the end of this post - just type your name in the box) with your name and the specific URL of your PIF post. Note: If you are not a blogger, you may still enter to win. Just sign your name on the Mr. Linky without a URL and then email me your contact information. Please note on your email that it is for the PIF book giveaway.

I'll announce the winners on Saturday morning, 24 April, so be sure to check back.

Best of luck!

If you have any books you'd like to Pay It Forward yourself this month, please leave me a comment and I'll link you in this post!

Additional Pay It Forward Giveaways:

1) Cynthia at Springmont Cottage is giving away the book Flyover States by Grace Grant on 24 April. Stop by her blog to enter win. Thanks, Cynthia.

2) Jubilee at Notes of Jubilee is giving away the book Salty Like Blood by Harry Kraus, M.D. on 24 April. Stop by her blog to enter win. Thanks, Jubilee!

3) Kathleen Marie at The Open Window is giving away the book The Mitford Bedside Companion by Jan Karon on 24 April. Stop by her blog to enter win. Thanks, Kathleen Marie.

4) Tamy at 3 Sides of Crazy is giving four books: East of Eden by John Steinbeck, Northern Lights by Nora Roberts, Angels All Over Town by Luanne Rice, and Tales of A Drama Queen by Lee Nichols on 30 April. Stop by her blog to enter to win. Thanks, Tamy!

Labels: , ,

6:57 AM
5 comments




Name: Overwhelmed

My complete profile

It wasn't supposed to work this way...Parts 1 through 10

(the story of the private, domestic adoption of our son)


(Part 1)
(Part 2)
(Part 3)
(Part 4)
(Part 5)
(Part 6)
(Part 7)
(Part 8)
(Part 9)
(Part 10- Adoption Finalization)

Fostering isn't for the faint of heart!

(our journey to adopt again through foster-to-adopt, the good, the bad, & everything in between)


Adoption #2- considering the State
More Adoption #2 thoughts
Adoption #2- Back to considering the State
Adoption #2- The Paperwork (Round 1)
Adoption #2- The Paperwork (Round 2)
Family Foster Home Licensing Prep Checklist
Adoption #2- Long overdue update
PS-MAPP class homework assignment
Our preliminary home inspection went well!
Adoption #2: Licensing update
Adoption #2- Foster Facts
Adoption #2: I love it when things go my way!
Adoption #2- The home inspection
Adoption #2- We failed our home inspection!
Adoption #2- We passed the follow-up home inspection!
Adoption #2- Still waiting
Adoption #2- We're getting closer
Adoption #2- An update & a lead
Adoption #2- The lead that didn't pan out.
Adoption #2- We're licensed!
Adoption #2- We have a tiny baby here!
Adoption #2- Update on this precious little girl.
Adoption #2- Quick update on Baby Bug
Adoption #2- Baby Bug is staying longer!
Adoption #2- Baby Bug is growing!
Adoption #2- Overdue update on Baby Bug
Adoption #2- The latest on Baby Bug
Adoption #2- Shopping spree for Baby Bug
Being a Foster Parent Does Not Make Me A Saint
Adoption #2- Another Placement Call!
Adoption #2- Placement Meeting- UPDATED!
Adoption #2- We have Boo at our home!
Adoption #2- Meeting Boo
Adoption #2- I'm angry on Boo's behalf!
Adoption #2- A Birthday Party for Boo
Adjusting to three 3 and under!
Stressful moments in fostering.
Adoption #2- Update on our foster daughters
CPS Workers Jerking Our Chain!
It's getting much worse!
Fostering: Update on Baby Bug
Fostering: Update on Boo
The effects of fostering on Snuggle Bug
The time is drawing near to let go of Baby Bug.
Good conversation with Baby Bug's dad.
Boo has a Permanency hearing coming soon!
My heart is breaking!
Bittersweet news about Baby Bug.
Next Friday is going to be tough.
Packing up Baby Bug's belongings
It's done- Baby Bug is gone.
Working on finding peace, one day at a time.
Referral to the Early Intervention Program
Baby Bug update
Home Inspection for re-licensing
Parole granted for Boo's bio mom
Baby Bug is turning 1 year old soon.
Day 2 of Boo's permanency hearing
A prayer answered today!
Attending Baby Bug's 1st birthday party
Foster news
Good news for Boo's case
Boo's bio family visits
Termination Trial date set!
A new caseworker for Boo
I've been asked to testify in court.
Court hearing for "John Doe"
Contested termination trial begins tomorrow afternoon
Boo's adoption has been finalized!

Beautiful adoption video
Date Night Bliss
Family Rules and Values
In the swing of school
It's time for the kiddos to head back to scho...
Flying home for a nice, long visit!
Baby fix!
Easing back into blogging
A shocking phone call
1 year anniversary for Boo
























Add to Technorati Favorites Blog Flux Directory Google PageRank 
Checker Tool



Parenting Blogs - Blog Top Sites

Top Parents blogs

Subscribe to Overwhelmed With Joy!

Add to My AOL

Add to netvibes

Powered by FeedBurner

Subscribe with Bloglines Add to Google


Powered By: